Friday News, February 17th

(Le Mars) — The Floyd Valley Healthcare Board of Trustees will hold a special meeting scheduled for Tuesday morning, February 21st, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The meeting will serve as a public hearing inviting comments on the proposed plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of costs for the “Air Handler” replacement project. The health care trustees will likely review and approve action to proceed with public bidding on the “Air Handler” replacement project. Administrator Mike Donlin says the health care facility wants to replace seven of the ten air handlers that assist with the circulation of air movement within the health care facility. Donlin says the units are no longer efficient.

(Le Mars) — Plans for a program about the Kimball Village American Indian Site have been changed from the original date of Sunday, Feb. 19, to Sunday, March 26, at the Plymouth County Historical Museum in Le Mars.
The change in schedule became necessary due to a death in the family of the main speaker.
The program will begin at 2 p.m. in the Study Hall on March 26.
The event is free and open to the public.

Chamber Of Commerce To Host Leadership Workshop

(Le Mars) — On Tuesday, the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce along with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach of Plymouth County will host a day long leadership workshop featuring Jerry Haack (Hawk). Haack is a certified Executive Life Coach and a Leader Trainer living in Minneapolis, however, at one time in his life, Haack resided in Le Mars and was employed at KLEM radio. Haack says his leadership workshops are meant to appel to all types of people, and it is open to everyone. He says many people are timid or shy about exposing their leadership abilities.

The leadership workshop will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the Le Mars Convention Center with the registration fee set at $85 with lunch included as part of the fee. Each person attending will also receive a copy of the book “The Power of Ted”. Reservations can be made by contacting the Le Mars Area Chamber of Commerce offices at (712) 546-8821.

State House and State Senate Pass Collective Bargaining Bill

(Des Moines) — Republicans in the Iowa House have approved a bill that would eliminate most collective bargaining rights for public workers in the state.
Lawmakers voted 53-47 Thursday, with all Democrats opposed, to pass the measure. It would prohibit public sector unions from negotiating over several issues, including health insurance and extra pay. The bill proposes that mandatory discussions be limited to base wages. Some public safety employees are exempt from some provisions of the bill.
Democrats introduced dozens of amendments to try to stop the bill or reduce its impact. Many of those amendments were not discussed after Republicans used a rare procedural move to end debate at noon.
The Iowa Senate has also approved the bill that would greatly reduce negotiating power for public sector unions in the state.
The GOP-led chamber voted 29-21 Thursday, with all Democrats and an independent opposed. The vote followed lengthy debate in the chamber that started Wednesday morning and entered the next day. Since the bills were identical in the state House and state Senate, the bill will now go to Governor Terry Branstad, who has said he supports the measure. Local legislators, Senator Bill Anderson and Senator Randy Feenstra, along with State Representatives Chuck Holz, Skylar Wheeler, and Dan Huseman all voted in favor of the measure.

Ernst Concerned About Russian Aggression

(Washington) — Saying “Russia is NOT a friend,” U-S Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa told reporters during a media news conference on Thursday that she has concerns about the posturing positions that Russian leader, Vladimir Putin has shown in recent weeks. Ernst, a former colonel with the Iowa National Guard, and who chairs the Senate Arms Services sub-committee on emerging threats, says she, and other U-S Senators, have written a letter urging President Trump to have a tough stance against the Russian aggression.